Personal finance

Is fear getting in your way when it comes to saving and investing? If so, you aren’t alone, according to Akbar Gbajabiamila, co-host of NBC’s “American Ninja Warrior.” And there is a way to overcome it, he said. “My No. 1 strategy for overcoming fear is purpose,” said Gbajabiamila, who also once played football for

Science Photo Library / Getty Images You don’t need a million dollars to live a glamorous retirement, so long as you’re willing to leave the U.S. behind. “Most people assume that a high-flying existence like that is the purview of the rich and famous alone,” said Jennifer Stevens, the executive editor of International Living. They’re

With auto sales slowing, car shoppers are likely to find dealerships eager to move inventory over the Memorial Day weekend. While the holiday always marks a big sales push, this year it comes as cars are sitting on dealer lots longer before getting sold. The average in April was 75 days, about 6% higher than

A woman enters an All American Check Cashing location in Brandon, Miss., May 12, 2017. Rogelio V. Solis | AP Many Americans describe their situation as financially stable, but economic fragility is persistent across the U.S., especially related to income level, educational attainment, and ethnicity and race. An unexpected expense of $400 can force more

Caiaimage/Trevor Adeline | Getty Images When it comes to clients who own permanent life insurance with cash value, financial advisors have both an asset and a liability. On the one hand, clients appreciate having a financial advisor who can analyze the contract and ensure that it still meets their goals. “It’s a perfect way to

fstop123 | E+ | Getty Images Life is financially complicated for many U.S. military troops and their families. Almost half of service members are under the age of 25, and a high percentage are married with children. They don’t get paid a lot and they must deploy repeatedly to difficult places, many times where their

Thomas Dunworth / EyeEm | Getty Images Bay Area tech workers plan to flee San Francisco for the more affordable locale of … New York City. That’s what Wealthfront, an investment management firm that provides robo-advisor services, found when it surveyed nearly 2,700 of its clients who work in the Bay Area at tech companies.

There has been a great deal of news about the rising cost of college tuition. However, discounts at private colleges and universities are actually on the rise. Private colleges are offering students larger grants relative to tuition prices than ever before, according to a new analysis by the National Association of College and University Business

Paul Bradbury | OJO Images | Getty Images Investing can be stressful. Anyone holding stocks and bonds through the 2008 financial crisis knows that all too well. For the financial advisors who help investors navigate the investment markets, it’s no picnic, either. A recent survey of investors and financial advisors by the Financial Planning Association

Ariel Skelley | DigitalVision | Getty Images I know the entire premise of investing is to someday be like Warren Buffett, the Sage of Omaha. While you can dream of such a lofty goal, you can still do pretty well for yourself when it comes to investing. As a certified financial planner, I often have

The best time to prepare for being let go is while you’re still punching in at work. While employment overall has been rosy — the unemployment rate went down 20 basis points to 3.6% in April, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — signs of job cuts are emerging. Last month, U.S.-based businesses

Once primarily used for financing purchases such as washing machines or winter coats when the economy was floundering, layaway has a whole new look. Now called point-of-sale loans, installment payments are once again shaking up how consumers finance purchases — on everything from sneakers to skin care. “As brick-and-mortar retailers continue to face challenges, many

Hero Images | Getty Images When it comes to putting a ring on it, younger generations are saying yes, but for less money. Two-thirds of younger Americans — Generation Z and young millennials — think an engagement ring should cost less than $2,500, according to a new survey from TD Ameritrade. That is about half

Drew Angerer | Getty Images News | Getty Images Eyeballing that Mega Millions jackpot? Good ol’ Uncle Sam is, too. After more than two months of twice-weekly drawings with no one matching all six numbers, the top prize has climbed to $367 million for Tuesday night’s drawing. The last jackpot won was on March 12,

There’s an expense lurking on the horizon for retirees that is largely unpredictable but likely: Long-term care. With premiums skyrocketing on insurance policies designed to cover that cost, financial advisors are turning to a variety of other strategies to help clients prepare for a day when they might need help with daily living activities such

Warren Buffett Gerard Miller | CNBC Billionaire Warren Buffett is a master when it comes to investing. The Berkshire Hathaway CEO is famous for buying and holding stock — and not giving in to the volatility of the market. He’s also well-known for taking big stakes in companies, such as the $900 million worth of

Paul Bradbury | Caiaimage | Getty Images All parents know what it’s like trying to pull off a good family vacation. After planning, traveling, keeping track of luggage and children, and dealing with squabbles and untimely bathroom needs, if you return intact with everyone still mostly on speaking terms, you’re likely to consider it a

With 401(k) balances near all-time highs, retirement savers are probably feeling pretty good about themselves these days. The first part of this year saw record contributions, thanks, in part, to a strong stock market, according to Fidelity, the nation’s largest provider of 401(k) plans. Eventually though, savers will have to take distributions from those accounts.

Nancy Ney | Photodisc | Getty Images As the cost of college rises, more parents are cosigning private loans for their children’s education. That move can wreak havoc on older people’s financial lives if their child struggles to repay the debt. Some 45% of adults over 50 who took on education-related debt for someone else

FluxFactory | E+ | Getty Images Nobody likes to get a poor grade. But those online “test-your-financial-literacy quizzes can be irresistible. They’re short. You think you’ll do pretty well. Then, wham. You failed. How bad should you feel? Probably not very. When U.S. managers, including corporate executives, were tested on basic financial literacy, the average